Sawamura Tanosuke 1800 - 1805

This woodblock print, created between 1800 and 1805 by Utagawa Toyokuni I, depicts Sawamura Tanosuke, a famous kabuki actor. Toyokuni I is considered the founder of the Utagawa school of woodblock printing and is best known for his portraits of actors. The image is a "yakusha-e," or actor print, a popular genre of Japanese art that depicted performers in their most famous roles. The detailed rendering of the actor's elaborate costume, with its intricate patterns and bold colors, is characteristic of Toyokuni I's style and reflects the importance of theatrical performance in Edo-period Japan.